Candles by DonnaMarie

I also posted this as a reply on the soapmaking forum. Wanted to see if any candlemakers were interested.

We are also in NYC - Westchester County. If anybody wants to start a soapmaking and/or candle making group for us New Yawkers, then please post the info here.

Not sure where we could meet for it though. Maybe the New York Public Library in Manhattan just to start and then figure out something from there.

Bob and DonnaMarie

We are also in NYC - Westchester County. If anybody wants to start a soapmaking and/or candle making group for us New Yawkers, then please post the info here.

Not sure where we could meet for it though. Maybe the New York Public Library in Manhattan just to start and then figure out something from there.

Bob and DonnaMarie

Show is called "How It's Made". Just saw the episode where they showed how votives, tapers and pillars are made by one of the big companies. They didn't clarify which company. Kind of interesting.

If anybody is interested check local listings, it might be on again.

Very nice. They also have the loaf pans at Christmas Tree Shoppe for a buck. I have stocked up on them because my Halloween and Thanksgiving ones were a big hit. So many different designs. These are going to be my best seller this year.

Question: I'm assuming that these are the 9oz pans? If they are, are you triple wicking and how much are you selling them for? I am finding that I have to triple wick these.

Bob and DonnaMarie

Can anybody help me out with a dupe for YC Holiday Sage?

AC Moore's and Michaels also have these for $1.00 a piece. I just made an order of 12 with a Happy Halloween on the outside of the container. Pumpkin Bread fragrance. Will post a picture tomorrow.

Bob and DonnaMarie

Yup....what Scented said. Don't use the candle colorants! They aren't body safe. Not to mention more than one drop smells like fuel! LOL.

<digging out notes> The food coloring went ok. I only used a drop or two...just to give it a tint of color. You could use other things you might have around the house too....like cocoa powder or paprika....oy, I'm not too into the "natural" colorants, so I'm clueless there really. Or you could leave it "au natural"! LOL.

Check some of the Peak's FO's you already have....most of what they carry is body safe. Shoot, I'd say, ditch the kit and just add some M&P to your next Peak order....much easier that way! BTW....the Goat's Milk M&P ROCKS! Huge seller for me!

Donna

You are right. The scents that I have from Peak are bath and body safe, (ex. apple blossom, lavender). I am going to go this route instead of the kit. Food coloring, scents, and I already have candle molds I can use for soap or like other members said, use a lined shoebox. I figure I can save about $30.00.

Thanks for the input angel, doris and scented.

Bob and DonnaMarie

I guess that isn't THAT bad of a deal. It appears that Cierra Candles offeres SFIC M&P Bases.

I went to Peak Candle, my favorite , and you could buy each of those things individually for $30.95 but that doesn't include colorants (I used food color for my first playings in M&P). BUT...the advantage there is YOU get to pick the 6 fragrance oils that you want to try and the mold you want to play with.

Just my thoughts...

Donna

I just went to Peaks and did the same thing. Without the colorants which would add another $30.00 for 4 different ones like the kit (although they would not be sending 1oz of each), the shipping is $10.41, saving myself about $9.00 or so.

How did the food coloring experiment go? I would try the same thing if yours was somewhat decent. Another question, I have Peak liquid dyes for candles. If I just use a couple of drops just for swirling, would that be bad? I would only try the soaps on myself or my wife and not anybody else.

P.S. I need some Peak FO's for candles so my order would incorporate these as well. Kill two birds with one stone is another way of looking at it.

Thanks, Bob and DonnaMarie

Hello all,

Thinking about branching out into the soapmaking arena sometime next year. I came across the deluxe M&P kit on Cierra Candles. It seems to me to be a good way to get my feet wet at $31.00 plus shipping (which it looks like to be around $20.00). Hmm, maybe not such a good deal. Damn shipping.

1 lb. of MP Soap Base, Clear

1 lb. of MP Soap Base, White

1 lb. of MP Soap Base, Oatmeal

1 lb. of MP Soap Base, Aloe Vera

1 pkg. of 4 Color Nuggets, mixed colors

1 Soap Mold, 4-in-1 Geometric

6 ea. 1 oz. Soap-safe Fragrance Oils

What do y'all think.

Thanks, Bob and DonnaMarie

I wanted to try the C-3, so I checked the boards and found out that Fillmore carried it. Their website says that they will send a 5lb free sample and you would only have to pay shipping, which turns out to be around $6.50.

Pretty good deal I thought.

Thanks, Bob and DonnaMarie

Jack B. Nimble & Quick Candle Co.

Brydean,

I am also in NY. Where abouts are you? Since I am also looking for insurance please let me know if you can what is the name of the insurance company. You can pm me if you don't want to give it out on the boards.

Thanks,

Bob and DonnaMarie

Dixie cups here

Hello all,

Just wondering if anybody has signed up for this policy and how are things going with it. Are you finding that it pretty much covers all your insurance needs for you business?

Bob and DonnaMarie

I'm curious. Has anybody actually tried their wax. Is it possible that it might actually be good, or has anybody actually asked them where they are getting their wax? I can't believe that they own a manufacturing plant somewhere making their own. Is it a private label being made by one of the biggies? Maybe it is just a blending of different types of soy waxes that we all use.

I have been curious about this for awhile.

Bob and DonnaMarie

BCN gets my vote. Pretty darn good.

What response did you get from TCS when you told them about your problem?

donna

I forgot the guys name but he said he never heard the problem of the wicks coming out of the tab. He said to call him back if the problem continues to exist, but I have been crimping the tabs so it hasn't happened again. Again, my problem is that I do not feel that I should have to crimp every single tab.

They don't know about the wicks not being inserted all the way in the tab yet, because it happened after my phone call to them.

I'll say it again. lousy quality control.

Bob and DonnaMarie

Thanks everyone. I am going to try BCN first, since I do buy FO's from them, after the holidays.

Bob and DonnaMarie

What problem are you having with the CDs?

Having to crimp every wick and at least 10 wicks out of one batch of CD14's so far that seem as though the wick wasn't inserted all the way before they crimped the tab. They limp over in the container when I try to center the wick. I think they have lousy quality control department. Do they even look at these things before they bundle them up?

I am very disappointed with the CD wicks from Tennessee Candle.

I need a different supplier with higher standards and good quality CD's.

Thanks to all who respond,

Bob and DonnaMarie

Update:

Starting pouring at approx. 145-150 and so far only minimum frosting issues. A lot better than it has been.

Thanks Pocha and to all who responded.

Bob and DonnaMarie

Shhhh......don't tell my wife. This could cost me a fortune.

Hartsdale, NY, Westchester County for anybody that lives in the area.

Has anybody bought anything from here as far as supplies for their candle business? Is is cost effective?

Bob and DonnaMarie

I was also thinking about adding soap after the Holidays.

Well...I DO get some frosting but usually a week or 2 after they set up. I live in (generally) warm California and I just let them cool naturally, uncovered in my kitchen (its above 70 degrees in there). I pour them at about 155. If I pour much lower I get funky tops and more frosting. HTH.Lili

I never poured that hot before, but I'll try anything once. I have tried the oven thing and styrofoam coolers. The only thing that kind of works is putting my containers on the stove between the gas jets. I use a double boiler so it gets kind of warm there in between.

After this holiday season I might just go all natural and not color my candles or at least stay away from the dark colors.

Thanks,

Bob and DonnaMarie

I use Evo dyes in 464 and generally don't have a problem getting deep colors...as long as you use enough. I generally don't measure but "eyeball" it. I've never had a problem with them clogging up the wick and I am able to get a nice dark green and a pretty dark red.

How are you cooling your candles? I am also using EVO in 464 and am having frosting issues.

Bob and DonnaMarie

I will give my needle nose pliers a shot. I still don't think that I should have to crimp or even go out and buy a special crimper.